Digital and analogue modulation and demodulation scheme using vortex-based spin torque nano-oscillators

In conventional communications systems, information is transmitted by modulating the frequency, amplitude or phase of the carrier signal, which often occurs in a binary fashion over a very narrow bandwidth. Recently, ultra-wideband signal transmission has gained interest for local communications in technologies such as autonomous local sensor networks and on-chip communications, which presents a challenge for conventional electronics. Spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) have been studied as a potentially low power highly tunable frequency source, and in this report we expand on this to show how a specific dynamic phase present in vortex-based STNOs makes them also well suited as Wideband Analogue Dynamic Sensors (WADS). This multi-functionality of the STNOs is the basis of a new modulation and demodulation scheme, where nominally identical devices can be used to transmit information in both a digital or analogue manner, with the potential to allow the highly efficient transmittance of data.